Labor Day is a federal holiday in the United States celebrated on the first Monday of September to honor and recognize the American labor movement and the contributions of workers to the country's strength, prosperity, and well-being
. It originated in the late 19th century as labor activists and trade unionists sought to establish a day dedicated to celebrating labor and the achievements of workers. The first Labor Day parade was held in New York City in 1882 under the sponsorship of the Knights of Labor and the Central Labor Union
. The holiday became a federal holiday in 1894, largely as a conciliatory gesture by President Grover Cleveland during the unrest caused by the Pullman Strike, a major railroad strike that year. The choice of September for the holiday was partly to avoid the socialist associations of May Day (International Workers' Day), which commemorates the Haymarket Riot of 1886 and is celebrated in many other countries
. Labor Day serves to acknowledge the hard work and contributions of American workers, often marked by parades, picnics, speeches, and other festivities. It also unofficially signals the end of summer in the U.S.
